Bears Agree With Thomas, Cut Him

A bitter prophecy by Mark Thomas came true Monday when the veteran defensive end, who said after Sunday's loss, "I seriously doubt I'm even playing anymore this year," was cut by the Bears.

Thomas, second on the Bears with 4.5 sacks this year and the starting left end as recently as three weeks ago, was stunned.

"I have no idea," said Thomas, who started the opener and has been in and out of the starting lineup several times. "It caught me totally off guard."

Bears officials said the move was based on performance and had installed 298-pound Bryan Robinson as the starting left end against Tampa Bay. The move effectively demoted both Thomas, who some felt was too concerned with his sack total and not enough with the overall scheme, and John Thierry. Two plays Sunday may have hastened Thomas' exit.

Thomas, who had 19 tackles this season to 35 for Thierry and 12 for Robinson, and defensive line coach Clarence Brooks got into a shouting match along the sideline after Thomas missed an apparent sack of quarterback Trent Dilfer. Thomas also lost containment on the final play of the first half, allowing Dilfer to circle outside and heave a last-second pass into the end zone for a touchdown.

But neither of those plays were cited when Thomas got the news Monday afternoon. "They didn't give me a reason," Thomas said.

"If you're going to let people go who mouth (off) every week, you might have to let half your football team go," said Mark Hatley, personnel vice president.

The move ends a disappointing two years in Chicago for Thomas. He signed a two-year contract with the Bears in 1997 as a free agent and posted a career-high 4.5 sacks last season, starting seven games but only after injuries to Thierry and Alonzo Spellman. Had Thomas reached eight sacks, his 1998 salary would have been $700,000 instead of $325,000.

Thomas won a starting job in training camp this year and was one of the players under consideration for possible early re-signing before season's end after registering 4.5 sacks through the first six games. But he suffered a torn knee ligament in Arizona and had not had a sack since.

"His pass-rush stuff was a big plus for us earlier in the year, but hadn't been much in the last three or four games," Brooks said.

The Bears had talked to Thomas about next season but made no contract offer.

"We didn't think the performance was good enough to get something done so we decided to go another direction," Hatley said.

Thomas' release, like several late last season, is another indicator of changes in personnel practices under Hatley. Coaches decide who plays, but once a player is deemed as having no place in either the current lineups or future plans, he may be gone in favor of another prospect.

Late last year, defensive back James Burton (Nov. 26), tight end Keith Jennings (Dec. 9) and guard Evan Pilgrim (Dec. 9) were all waived and players such as running backs James Allen and Ronnie Harmon were signed for 1998.

Teams have until 3 p.m. Tuesday to claim Thomas on waivers, and Thomas' $325,000 salary is low for a defensive end. His agent, Jack Reale, had received inquiries Monday afternoon.

The Bears have had big-play problems at defensive end. Thierry, who tried to pick up a Dallas Cowboys fumble instead of falling on the ball, drew an offsides penalty on the final play of Sunday's first half. The flag allowed the Bucs a second chance at a decisive Hail Mary touchdown pass.

Carl Reeves has been benched since the Tennessee game when he was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on an out-of-bounds hit on Oilers quarterback Steve McNair. The hit came on the first play of a potential game-winning Tennessee drive.

But the Bears' decision said they believed Thomas offered less than either for the future.

"(Thierry) is a little bit more flexible of an athlete as far as being able to do some things," Brooks said. "We do a lot more in our scheme with J.T. than with Mark."